Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Dr. Betts Featured In Investment Magazine
November 5,
2004

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--Friday's Investor's Business Daily featured a
story about Henry B. Betts, MD, who is regarded as a pioneer in rehabilitation
and physical medicine.

Betts is also known as a relentless advocate for the rights of people
with disabilities.

Among other things, Betts went before Chicago's late Mayor Richard J.
Daley to request that curb cuts be installed in the city's sidewalks, long
before the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act was written.

"When Daley put his hand up, I though he was going to throw me out,"
Betts said. "But he said 'Let's do it.' I said, 'Do what?' He said, 'Let's cut
the curbs.'"

Betts said his motivation came from wanting to help people with
disabilities to be included in the world.

According to the website for the American Association of People with
Disabilities, the Henry B. Betts Award has been presented every year since 1989
to honor individuals "whose work and scope of influence have significantly
improved the quality of life for people with disabilities in the past, and will
be a force for change in the future."

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center,the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.